US rapper ODB died of a drug overdose last month, the New York City medical examiner's office has said.

The 35-year-old, also known as Ol' Dirty Bastard, collapsed and died at a recording studio on 13 November 2004 after complaining of chest pains.

He died "as a result of intoxication by the combined effects of cocaine and Tramadol, a prescription painkiller but not a narcotic".

"The manner of death is an accident," said spokeswoman Ellen Borakove.

ODB, real name Russell Jones, was dead before paramedics could reach him at a Manhattan studio where he was recording last month.

A founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan in the early 1990s, ODB's best-known solo track was Got Your Money featuring Kelis.

He had been working on a comeback album for more than a year prior to his death.

ODB joins a string of rap stars who have met untimely deaths, including Jam Master Jay of Run DMC, who was fatally shot in late 2002, and Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur who were both shot in the late 1990s.